First Impressions: Milwaukee 2014

1. Will Power put on a drive of a lifetime and the championship is his to lose. Dominated from pole position and worked strategy perfectly. It's hard to imagine anyone but Power winning this title, especially as the series heads to the track Power owns, Sonoma.

2. Juan Pablo Montoya made it a Penske 1-2. To think at one time we all though Montoya would never even consider stepping into an IndyCar ever again and here he is and he seems different. Every time you hear him in an interview he sound happier than when he was in CART or Formula One or NASCAR. He's still Montoya though but he sounds relaxed and enjoying this season.

3. Another great day for the Target Ganassi pairing of Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon. The second half has been much better for these two but still only one win for the team with two races remaining. Another great day for Chevrolet taking the top four and they nearly swept the top five...

4. But Josef Newgarden rallied after a late stop for fuel. On fresh tires he flew from twelfth to fifth and made up his lap on his own. Maybe the merger of Ed Carpenter's team with Sarah Fisher's will benefit Newgarden as he has shown the speed all year only to have strategy not fall in his favor.

5. Ryan Briscoe came home in sixth but he hasn't made any waves this season despite getting good finishes. That is kind of the story of his career. Other than his championship run in 2009, Briscoe's career has been a bunch of really good results and solid runs only to be overlooked.

6. Really good run for Simon Pagenaud and Mikhail Aleshin in seventh and eighth. Pagenaud jumps Ryan Hunter-Reay as he had a suspension problem end his day despite driving up to fifth from nineteenth on the grid. Schmidt Peterson Hamilton has cemented themselves as a top team in IndyCar and keeping Pagenaud is crucial.

7. Ed Carpenter has always struggled at Milwaukee and coming home in ninth was what he needed. He will be a factor at Fontana in a fortnight. It's a shame there are only six ovals because Carpenter is a really good driver and his talent isn't showcased enough. He's also a really good interview and isn't afraid to speak his mind.

8. I thought no rookies would finish in the top ten and I was wrong as two did. Jack Hawksworth came home in tenth ahead of Hélio Castroneves. Great run for Hawksworth. After last year in Indy Lights I felt he was ready for IndyCar on road and street courses but still needed work on ovals. He has been improving all season on oval and should be ready to take that next step in 2015.

9. Attention Eddie Gossage and Brandon Igdalsky: That's how you bring fans out for a race. Call Michael Andretti and listen. Don't say a word, just let Michael talk because he has raised Milwaukee from the ashes.

10. Also, races with ferris wheel always tend to draw crowds. Take note.

11. As for Michael Andretti's team, not a day to remember. Marco Andretti was the top finisher in thirteenth, James Hinchcliffe was never the same after his practice accident, Hunter-Reay was doing great but then had the suspension problem and Carlos Muñoz retired after an accident. Bittersweet day for Michael Andretti.

12. There is no place like home for watching a race. I learned that today.

13. Looking forward to Sonoma. I will do a Mazda Road to Indy championship special as Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and U.S. F2000 each have a doubleheader to close out their seasons. Power has a chance to take a command on the championship as the series heads to Wine Country.